Filing-cabinet.



J. B. POTTER. FILING CABINET.

Patented Aug. 30, 1910.

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l1 TTOR/VFYS WITNESSES.'

APPLICATION FILED IANA, 1910. l 968,977. v Patented Aug. 3o, 1910.

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J. B. POTTER.

FILING CABINET.

APPLICATION FILED JANA, 1910. 968,977. Patented Aug. 30,1910.

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WITNESSES:

J. B. POTTER. FILING CABINET. APPLIouIoN FILED ulm, 1910.

968,977. PatentedAug-30, 1910.

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WITNESS/5S.' /N VEN T01? JAMES BROWN POTTER, OF NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.

FILING-CABINET.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 30, 1910.

Application filed January 4, 1910. Serial No. 536,409.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES BROWN POTTER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newport, in the county of Newport and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and Improved Filing-Cabinet, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in View are: to provide a filing cabinet wherein the documents filed therein may be closely packed and securely held; to provide filing devices constructed and arranged to conform to the system herein set forth and claimed whereby document ling may be arranged topically; to provide filing devices adapted to be freely and readily removed from the cabinet wherein they are supported, for transportation; to provide a cabinet for transportation of the filing devices, constructed and arranged in trunk form; to provide a trunklike cabinet for filing devices, constructed and arranged to be used as a temporary desk; and to provide a construction for a cabinet which is durable, economical and eiicient.

One embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a trunklike cabinet constructed and equipped in conformity with the present invention, the View illustrating the cabinet in position for use as a desk; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an office cabinet constructed and arranged in conformity with the present invention; Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section of the trunklike cabinet illustrated in Fig. l, showing the cabinet as closed for transportation; Fig. 4c is a perspective view in detail of one of the flexible filing panels used in conjunction with this invention; Fig. 5 is a perspective view in detail of the skeleton supporting frame for the iiexible panels illustrated in Fig. 4, the top of the trunk-like cabinet shown in Fig. l being shown in fragmentary form; Fig. 6 is a perspective view in detail of one of the flexible filing panels used in the present invention, shown in folded form for carrying; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view in detail of a document folder or pocket used in conjunction with the present invention.

In the employment of the present invention a system of filing is developed wherein documents of a certain character or relating to a certain topic. In a file so arranged, when constructed in conformity with the present invention, a series of panels are presented to the user, the edge thereof alone showing at the front of the cabinet. The color scheme, however, denotes to the user the location of panels containing the docu-A ments of any particular business or relating to any particular topic. While I prefer the color scheme referred to, it will be understood that I do not wish to be confined to the use of panels of varied colors, as the same purpose may be arrived at by tagging the edges of the panels.

The panels employed by me, and as shown in detail in Fig. 4f of the drawings, consist preferably of a iexible cloth hanger, at the upper end of which is threaded a rigid supporting strip 8. The panel body 9 is formed from a single thickness or strip of cloth. Along the vertical edges of the said panel body 9, and on both sides thereof, are sewed or otherwise fixedly secured, narrower strips 10, 10. The strips l0, 10 are fulled and stitched as at the lines ll, ll. The outer edges of the strips are preferably likewise stitched or secured to the outer edges of the body panel 9, thereby forming laterally opening and oppositely disposed pockets. The pockets formed by the strips l0, l0 are separated to form an intervening space, bridged by the documents and the folders l2 thereof. The folders l2 are formed from any suitable stiif, thin paper, folded preferably as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, with the two cut edges turned to the central fold of the-sheet from which the folder is formed.

When filing documents in the pockets formed by the strips 10, l0, the documents are folded to t within the folders l2, and the back of the folder is indorsed with the subject matter of the documents contained therein. This indorsement is naturally arranged upon the folder in such manner as to be exposed when the ends of the folder are inserted within the pockets formed by the strips 10, 10, as will be seen by reference to the drawings in Figs. 3, 4 and 6. In this manner it is obvious that the panel, when thus employed, lends itself readily to the quick inspection by the user of the folder containing the documents desired.

lVhen employing the system herein set forth, and the devices illustrated, the cabinet in which tiles are kept is provided with a hanger rod 13. Over the hanger rod 13 extends a swivel hook 14 of any suitable construction. to the strip 8. The panels 9, 9 are suspended upon the rod 13, and extended transversely across the same, nesting in parallel relation each to the other, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. Vhen in use, however, the assembled panels yield sufiiciently to permit the separation at any point into two sections sufficiently removed to permit the strip 8 and panel body connected therewith to be turned parallel to the said rod and facing the outside of the cabinet. It will be understood that the panel may be rotated so that either side may be exposed to view. This arrangement affords ready and easy facility to the user for a more careful survey of the contents of the particular panel which he may desire to withdraw from the cabinet, or from which he may desire t0 extract the particular document folder 12.

The rod 13 may be a permanent fixture within a permanent cabinet, such as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The panels, and method of arrangement thereof, adapt themselves readily to transportation in compact space. To carry a series of panels of the nature described, and to form a traveling filing cabinet, I have constructed a light skeleton frame 15, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5 particularly. Between top cross bars 16, 16 of the said skeleton frame is suspended the rod 13. The cross bars 16, 16 are maintained in their elevated position by uprights 17, 17, which, together with the cross framing illustrated in the drawings are joined to bottom frames 1S, 18. The rectangular skeleton frame is cross braced by a diagonal strip 19. The frame is constructed from any form of light, thin and stout material. lVhen carried in the trunklike cabinet 20 the said frame fills the entire interior when the end 21 and the lid sections 22 and 23 are closed. l/Vhen the lid sections are closed the cabinet in all respects resembles a trunk of the form and style known as steamer trunks. While these cabinets may be made of various sizes, that preferred by me is of the size usual in steamer trunks, so that the same may be carried in a steamer, and there used when and as desired.

In use, and when contained in the cabinet 20, the frame 15 and documents carried thereby are elevated to the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, wherein the upward The hook 14 is iixedly attached extension raises the frame 15 a little less than one half of its length extended from the cabinet body. To accomplish this the end 21 is thrown back, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and a st-rap 24 is drawn taut over rollers 25 formed in cross bars 26, 26 of the bottom frame 1S. The strap 24 is fixedly secured to the body of the cabinet 20, as seen at 27 in Fig. 5 of the drawings. On the opposite panel of the cabinet 20 is a stinken button buckle or device similar to that shown at 27 over which eyelets 28 of the strap 24 are threaded. By means of this arrangement it is obvious that the frame 15 may be extended from the cabinet to any reasonable degree. Further, it will be seen that, although the cabinet may be heavy, the purchase thus obtained permits the easy and ready elevation of the frame when loaded.

Vhen the cabinet 2O is used in the manner above described, it is often desired that a desk may be used in connection therewith for the examination of papers extracted from the panels and document folders contained therein. It is for this purpose that I have divided the lid of the trunk-like structure into the sections 22 and 23, shown more particularly in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The section 22 is hinged, in the manner illustrated, to the section 23,permitting the same to fall away from the trunk body and to rest upon the knees of a person when seated on the usual stool or chair. No support is shown in the drawings, and none is by me desired, as I prefer that when the cabinet is open and the desk section 22 not required, the same shall drop to the perpendicular position which removes it as an obstruction which it otherwise would prove. However, if it be desired that the lid should be thus supported, the ordinary strap support attached to the side of the trunk-like body carrying the hinges 29, 29 of the section 23 may be secured to the said trunk body and lid section to support the same in its extended position.

Vhen, after use, the trunk body is to be closed, the strap 24 is removed from engagement with the fastening above referred to, and the strap slacked away, permitting the same to run over the rollers 25 on the frame 1S and the skeleton frame 15, Vto settle to the end of the trunk body or the bottom of the cabinet, as shown in Fig. 1. It will be understood that when the cabinet is completely loaded with documents the weight upon the rod 13 is excessive, and in such position the weight of the panels resting upon the said rod, if the trunk-like cabinet be dropped upon one of the lower corners, is apt to bend or otherwise distort the said rod. It is to support the said rod 13 that I have provided the wooden strip 30. (See Fig.- 3 of the drawings.) On the other hand, should the trunk-like body be set upon the opposite end,

panel illustrated.

or that as shown in Fig. l as the top of the cabinet, the settling Weight of the panels 9, 9 might dislodge the hooks 14, 14 from the rod 13. It is to prevent t-he disarrangement of the hooks 14, and at the same time to support in its vertical position the strip 30, or similar device, that I have provided the channeled frame 31. The frame 31 is provided With slots 32, 32 which fit over the upper end of the strip 30, or the end thereof having t-he slot 33, While the side extensions of the channel frame override and hold in position the hooks 14, 14. Thus, when the trunk-like cabinet is being arranged for traveling, the frame l5 is lowered until it rests upon the end of the trunk-like body. The strip 30 is then inserted between the panels 9, 9 and rested upon the trunk body, While the end is bent out of the vertical until it passes under the rod 13 so that the slot 33 may be threaded over the said rod. Thereupon the strip 30 is brought to the vertical position, and it will be found t-hat the bottom of the slot 33 rests snugly under and supports the rod 13. In this position the frame 31 is inserted over the rod 13 and the hooks 14 thereon, the slots 32, 32 being set over the upper edge of the strip 30. When now the frame 31 is closed and the section is folded thereover and locked, the trunklike cabinet is ready for transportation, Without fear of the documents or panels being in a different position at the end of the journey than they are at the start.

Wvith a cabinet formed as herein described, and arranged With filing panels systematized as herein set forth, it is obvious that a business man when traveling may at all times have free and ready access to business files which he may desire, or which it may be necessary that he should consult.

The devices and system herein illustrated and described adapt themselves to a manner of use advantageous and desirable. Having arrived at the end of his journey, a man of business desires to remove certain papers for use in consultation. The present or old method would undoubtedly be that he would extract from his papers carried, a number of files or separated papers. After having used the papers and on returning to his hotel or temporary office, this separation from their natural les necessitates retiling. This is obviated in the present instance by the arrangement of the files in the flexible This panel adapts itself to be folded, as sho-Wn in Fig. 6. To each of the panels I attach a tying cord 34, as seen in the said figure. Thus, when the panel is removed from the rod 13 it is only necessary that the cord 34 should be Wrapped upon the folded panel and secured in packet form, as seen in Fig. 6. As above stated, the various panels are arranged to receive only the series of documents pertaining to separate lines or topics of business, therefore the person using the present described system feels assured that the papers that he has in the panel are related only to the business for the moment in hand. Having used the papers at the consultation, they, on being folded, are immediately returned to the pockets. The bundle is then re-formed, and on the person returning to his hotel or temporary office the panel is again hung in its position Within the trunk-like cabinet. By this system of handling and carrying papers, it will be found that the traveling man has always an orderly, methodical set of papers to which he has easy access.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A tiling cabinet, comprising a suspension rod mounted in fixed supports; a plurality of flexible hanging panels; a series of supporting devices mounted on said panels to hold folded documents; and a pivotal hanger for each of said panels.

2. A filing cabinet, comprising a suspension rod mounted in fixed supports; a plurality of flexible hanging panels; a series of supporting devices mounted on said panels in horizontally separated arrangement to hold folded documents in horizontal disposition; and a pivot-al hanger for each of said panels.

3. A ling cabinet, comprising a suspension rod mounted in fixed supports; a plurality of flexible hanging panels; a series of supporting devices mounted on both sides o-f said panels in horizontally separated arrangement to hold folded documents in horizontal disposition; and a pivotal hanger for each of said panels.

4. A filing cabinet, comprising a suspension rod mounted in fixed supports; a plurality of flexible hanging panels; a series of pockets formed on the vertical edges of said panels and opening tovvard the center thereof; and a pivotal hanger for each of said panels.

5. A filing cabinet, comprising a suspension rod mounted in fixed supports; a plurality of flexible hanging panels; a series of pockets formed on the vertical edges of said panels and on both sides thereof, said pockets being arranged in horizontally separated oppositely disposed pairs; and a pivotal hanger for each of said panels.

6. A filing cabinet, comprising a suspension rod mounted in fixed supports; a plurality of flexible hanging panels; a series of supporting devices mounted on said panels to hold folded documents; and a svviveled hook attached to each of said panels to suspend the same and to permit the same to swing on a vertical center.

7 A filing cabinet, comprising a portable trunlclike receptacle; a side opening door or cover for said receptacle; a suspension rod mounted in fixed supports within said receptacle and disposed in parallel relation with said door; a plurality of flexible hanging panels; a series of supporting devices mounted on said panels to hold folded documents; and a pivotal hanger for each of said panels.

8. A filing cabinet, comprising a portable trunk-like receptacle; an open sided upright supporting frame slidably mounted in said receptacle; an elevator device to raise and hold the said supporting frame in raised position in said receptacle; a suspension rod mounted in fixed supports within said supporting frame; a plurality of flexible hanging panels mounted on said rod; a series of supporting devices mounted on said panels to hold folded documents; and a pivotal hanger for each of said panels.

9. A filing cabinet, comprising a portable trunk-like receptacle; an open sided upright supporting frame slidably mounted in said receptacle; a flexible supporting member for said frame adjustably attached to said receptacle to vary the extension of the said frame in said receptacle; a suspension rod mounted in fixed supports upon said supporting frame; a plurality of flexible hanging panels mounted on said rod; a series of supporting devices mounted on said panels to hold folded documents; and a pivotal hanger for each of said panels.

l0. A filing cabinet, comprising a portable trunk-like receptacle having a two-part side opening door or cover, one of said parts being pivoted on the other part to throw outward from the said receptacle to form a shelf; an open sided upright supporting frame slidably mounted in said receptacle; a fiexible supporting member for said frame, adjustably attached to said receptacle to vary the extension of the said frame from said receptacle; a suspension rod mounted in fixed supports upon said supporting frame; a plurality of flexible hanging panels mounted upon said rod; a series of supporting devices mounted on said panels to hold folded documents; and a pivotal hanger for each of said panels.

1l. A filing cabinet, comprising a portable trunk-like receptacle having a two-part side opening door or cover, one of said parts being pivoted on the other part to t-hrow outward from the said receptacle to form a shelf; a hinged end closure section for said receptacle; an open sided upright supporting frame slidably mounted in said receptaole; a flexible supporting member for said frame, adjustably attached to said receptacle; a suspension rod mounted in fixed supports upon said supporting frame; a plurality of flexible hanging panels mount ed on said rod; a series of supporting devices mounted on said panels to hold folded documents; and a pivotal hanger for each of said panels.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES BROWN POTTER.

Titnesses E. F. MURDooK, PHILIP D. RoLLHAUs. 

